Who needs a mower when you've got Munchkin and Mocha?

Written By Peter Allan
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow with goats talking about the goat grazing pilot project.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said, if the goat grazing pilot project is successful, it would be an environmentally friendly and affordable way to keep the city's parks well-maintained. Photo from Mayor Chow's X account.

By  Abdul Matin Sarfraz

Goodbye, grass mowers and chemical herbicides. Hello, goats grazing in Toronto parkland for a two-day test run.

Recently, goats named Munchkin, Mocha, Baba, Wipeout and Cinnamon were among a herd helping themselves to all the plants they could consume in downtown Don Valley Brick Works (DVBW) Park.

In an effort to better maintain its natural habitats, Toronto recently launched an innovative pilot project using a specialized “eco-herd” of goats aimed at controlling woody and invasive plants in the park.

On June 25 and 26, the eco-herd was deployed for an intensive two-day grazing session, marking the first time Toronto has tested prescribed grazing for its urban meadow ecosystem.

“We're trying out something new,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “A pilot project to see how goats can help maintain meadows and prairies in Toronto's parks. If successful, it would be an environmentally friendly and affordable way to keep our parks well-maintained.”

READ MORE

 
Peter Allan
Previous

How rising emissions will hurt Canada's fisheries, and how curbing them could help
Next

A researcher’s quest to make heat pumps frost-free